DRC: dispersal of a march against the appointment of Ronsard Malonda as head of the Ceni

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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), hundreds of demonstrators were on the streets of the capital, this Saturday morning, to protest against the confirmation of the appointment of Ronsard Malonda, as president of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) by l National Assembly, dominated by elected pro-Joseph Kabila. The demonstration was dispersed by the police. More than a dozen protesters were arrested before being released.

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How to explain such an outcry against the appointment of Ronsard Malonda at the head of the CENI?

Ronsard Malonda is the executive secretary of the outgoing CENI. He was also one of the architects of the 2018 elections, the results of which were highly disputed. A part of its members is also under American sanctions, for suspicions of corruption. This is what has led the Catholic and Protestant churches, the two main faiths in the country, to oppose this choice.

These are the eight recognized religious denominations which traditionally designate the president of the Election Commission. There was therefore no consensus at this level.

The presidential party, the UDPS, speaks of a suspicious designation procedure and promises to demonstrate next Thursday. The opposition, Lamuka, also promises actions.

Citizen movements, including the secular coordinating committee - an association of the Catholic Church - were therefore on the streets this morning to protest against the " instrumentalization  " of the Ceni.

All accuse the FCC of Joseph Kabila who, through the National Assembly, confirmed this candidacy and ask President Félix Tshisekedi not to sign the investiture order.

For the pro-Kabila coalition, the procedure was carried out regularly and Ronsard Malonda was simply the most qualified candidate for this post.

President Félix Tshisekedi's reaction

Friday, July 3, the Congolese head of state broached the subject before the debates of the Council of Ministers and pointed out, according to the report, that there are, around the appointment of Ronsard Malonda, "  strong challenges  " , that he receives “  contradictory reports  ” about him, on the irregularities in particular which would have tainted this procedure.

He recalled that he was the guarantor of the proper functioning of the institutions and as such, called on the various actors to make his appointments - it is not only the President of the CEN - "  in a spirit of consensus, of appeasement  "and to flatten the views before"  any advancement  "in this process. In any case, Félix Tshisekedi promised to "  personally ensure  " that this designation procedure is credible from start to finish.

Dispersed demonstration and arrest

Departing a few hundred from the Place de l'Échangeur in the Limete district, more than a thousand arrived near the People's Palace, seat of the National Assembly and the Congolese Senate, when the police dispersed them. More than a dozen protesters were arrested before being released. The police chief in Kinshasa - who estimates the number of demonstrators at 600 - accuses them of having crossed the   agreed “ red line ”, that is to say of having approached less than a kilometer from the parliament. Floribert Anzuli, from the movement was among them.

We arrived calmly at the Parliament of the People's Palace without any problems. Arrived at the People's Palace, suddenly vehicles tumbled. They started shooting all over the place. We don't know if it was tear gas or bullets. It was incomprehensible, we were peaceful. […] What we don't understand is who gave the order to shoot.

Floribert Anzuluni

Sonia Rolley

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